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While we get to ride in a carriage, the soldiers traveling with us are on foot.
Some are riding on beast mounts, but most are foot soldiers, wearing heavy armor and carrying their weapons as they walk.
If they were to hear such a petty complaint from someone with the privilege of riding in a carriage, surely that would only foster resentment.
“Besides, Sir Wald is hard at work even as we speak. We cannot waste time trifling.”
Our comrade and mutual friend Sir Wald is stationed at Prince Hugo’s side.
His role is to keep watch on the prince in case he attempts anything that runs contrary to our plans.
“Oh, he’s just trying to make up for his little blunder however he can, that’s all. It’s cute how hard he’s trying, don’t you think?”
“Please don’t ever say that to his face.”
Wald is deeply concerned about that situation.
The “blunder” in question is that he was burned by the wyrm’s breath when the hero and his allies got away.
Of course, we intended to let them go from the start, so that isn’t a problem. However, since he was the only one of us to be wounded, he seems to have taken the incident as a personal failure.
All the more since it happened in front of the person he’s in love with, no doubt.
Personally, the way he scrambles like a faithful dog to do anything that might improve his value in her eyes, no matter how troublesome the task, only makes me think less of him.
And judging by her remark just now, it doesn’t seem like her opinion of him has gone up or down at all.
Does she even see him as a potential romantic interest?
Since I have no romantic experience myself, I can’t say either way.
“But that wyrm is a reincarnation, too. There’s no shame in losing that fight, if you ask me.”
The white wyrm that interrupted our battle with the hero and his compatriots.
According to Master, that creature is a reincarnation, too.
Sophia affirmed this when we saw it in person, so there is no doubt in my mind.
“Still, it must have been frustrating for him. And surely he didn’t want to look incompetent in front of the object of his affection, so try to be more considerate. Besides, you wouldn’t like to lose to a reincarnation yourself, would you?”
Certainly, reincarnations have the potential to become very powerful.
The proof of that is sitting right in front of me.
Sophia is a reincarnation, too, after all.
However, one cannot simply use that as an excuse for losing.
“Yeah, I guess not.”
Sophia herself hates to lose, so she makes no attempt to deny my point.
“D’you think you could’ve won if you fought the hero then and there?” she asks suddenly.
It’s a somewhat abrupt shift in subject, though not entirely unexpected.
However, I would have preferred to avoid it.
“I suppose I likely would have lost. All I did was slow him down from a distance. If we were to fight in a one-on-one battle, my odds of winning would be slim.”
When we fought the hero, I threw my chakram at him from a distance.
At the time, he was carrying an unconscious woman in one arm and was surrounded by soldiers, yet he still managed to ward off my attacks.
I wasn’t seriously attempting to kill him, of course, but I still must commend his ability to hold his own in that situation.
If I had to fight him head-on, without any such conditions, I can only assume that the odds would be against me.
Although I wouldn’t go so far as to say I wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Huh. So you admit you would lose?”
Sophia smiles nastily.
This is why I despise her.
“One must always be accurate in analyzing an opponent’s strength. It would be unwise to underestimate their strength or overestimate one’s own.”
“Doesn’t it bother you, though?”
“Is that so wrong?”
Yes, I’ll admit it.
It does bother me that the hero is stronger than I am.
However, the fact that this woman has to point it out is far more vexing.
“No, I didn’t say that. I mean, no one likes to lose, really.”
Her glossy lips curve into a smile as she continues.
“I just wanted to see that annoyed look on your face.”
“You hate me right back, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
Truly, what a frustrating person she is.